1932-11-12 — Page 11

SOLVING CROSS-ROADS

THE HONGKONG

PUZZLE.

Exhaust Pipes Like Chimneys: Unbanked

TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1932.

ed, because the sinking gna would bo breathed by people in the stroat, wherone when the fumes are given out near ground lovel very little of the dangerous gan

Curve Dangers: Those - Rainbow Signals.rises high enough to be inhaled.

By Sir Malcolm Campbell

I have before me now a very interesting batch of suggestions, culled from letters received during the past few days.

клу.

hard.

Two Roads at Curves

deals

I know that if an engine is run In a badly ventilated garage one may be quite comfortable while standing, but be seriously affected if one stoops for a minute or so to do anything at floor level.

Fireworks Ahend!

OFFICIAL HIGHWAY REPORT.

Statement by the Committee of the Automobile Club of China.

Much has been sald pro and con, iniles or so and the surface is

Sectors

if

be

UNREADABLE, BUT CLEAR,

險

It is abundantly clear from the, remove the doubt which always contents of my posting that the assails one when the cross-roads

regarding the possibilities of the much improved although soft in motoring public is giving very sign is encountered on unfamiliar

new Shanghai-Hangchow High-places. The read into Hangchow serious attention to the problem roads,

way, but the appended statement passes through the old gate and of greater safety on the roads,

prepared by the Automobile Club then in various directions accord- for never a day passes but I re- Another correspondent ceive lettera boaring upon this with the danger of the unbanked followed the introduction by arm than passing interest both to Comment on the Newer Highway,

A storm of controversy has conditions, should prove of more traveller.

of China as to actual and potential Ing to the destination of the subject.

curve, which has undoubtedly of motor-car manufacturers of foreign and Chinese motorists, Some contain suggestions prac-been the cause of many accidents, now signalling device making use ical and often valuable. Aow especially in wet weather.

of the three colours associated

Total length from Shanghai to put forward plans which a little

It is gonerally admitted that with traffic control, lights.

Hangehow 216 Kilometers (134% of the road from Minghong to Cha- As previously stated the section thought would have shown to be curves which are pot banked are.

The device is operated by

miles) out of the question because not;

dangerous. Thoy are infinitely lever on the instrument board of

Shanghai-Minghong.-20. Kilo-surface is very poor in places ex- poo is newly constructed and the adaptable to existing conditions worse when, as too often is the the car. Immediately the lover is metres (18 miles). This section tremely treacherous when travel- or because they would bring in case, they are banked the wrong moved, and before any signal pro- na boca in existence for many ling at speed. The road suffered their train evils worse than those way by the heavy cumber which por is given, an amber warning years and is built of broken brick considerably as a result of the they are designed to cure,

some road surveyors thinks is light appears on both sides of tho

and cindera. The road surfaco is trame on the opening day and The "heavy cambor" school of neconsary to drain the surfaces. car.

good. The existing toll was done although travel was fairly com If the driver intends to turn to

away with as far as private motor fortable on the outward journey, rond thought seems to be dying the right he moves the lever in

vehicles are concerned on October speed had to be reduced on the

Motorists travelling on highways around Tokyo, Japan, often encoun 10, 1932. The Minghong road is homeward journey and bad bumpa that direction, and red light I have an idea that the reason shows on the off alde and a green

reached from Route de Zikawel by were frequent. It is probable motorists is common throughout Japan, and probably accounts for tor the trame sign above. Although they are unable to read it, New Crossing Signs

road authorities do .not

the meaning of it is clear. This type of graphic warning to One correspondent offers a too corporate a properly calculated moved to the left, the red light taking the first turn to the right section of the road will

in-light on the other. If the lever be crossing the Route Ghisl Bridge or that after a few days heavy rain

Zikawel Bridge and (in ench enas) considerable simple solution of the crema-roads banking in heavy curves

portions of this that country's excellent safety record. is that appears on that side and the green problem of priority of right of they are afraid of being accused light on the off side. These things

Minghong Ferry-Consista of dangerous of turning the roads lite racing happen provided the lever has

a jetty, a landing bridge and From Chapoo to Hangchow bad and possible deterioration of road extend beyond Chapoe or possibly not unusable. the reservations above mentioned. Shanghai cannot with comfort As every experienced driver tracks. This is a wrong way of been correctly moved.

pontoon on each bank of the knows, it is not always casy to looking at the matter.

curves and the loose cinder sur surface as the result of trame, by Halyen and Kamph according to decide which of two crossing roads

A steel ferry face, which is inclined to collect all vohicles, provided speed is re-weather and road conditions, and Modern traffle is fast trafic, draw out

When the driver Intenda to Whangpos River.

to overtake another boat driven by a Dleel engine, at the sides and in the centre of gulated to suit the road conditions provided an early start is made. is subaidiary to the other. This and nothing will alter the fact, so vehicle an has been the esuse of many ac- why should not our road

and a wooden ferry boat operated the road render cautious driving from place to place, which meane amber light only is Hurve-shown on the off side.

by yuloh, carry vehicles across the essential. Travelling after aun-

At Kingszen, half way between cidents, and there will be many yora and authorities recognise

river. Three It is an exceedingly clever

ordinary more before we can get everybody it and make the roude as safe for arrangement, but I do not know motor vehicles are carried by any portion of the road with the hong to Hangchow of not more turning point, or at Chapoo a long sized down cannot be recommended on length of the road from Ming-hill which may be made the day's an average speed over the whole Cholin and Chapoo, there is a lone

that there is much more that can

either of the ferry boats-loading exception of the section Shanghai- than 20 miles per hour, and Mem-range of hills. As Halyen there My correspondant offers the ex-be sail in its favour. I fear it is and unloading is completed in The suggestion now made is that cellent auggestion that where likely to make contaslon

few moments and the crossing before reaching Hangchow. Pass- denvouring to emulate the feat of and at Kumpu a long range of Minghong and the last 16 miles bers aro warned against en is beautiful wooded countryside main roads should be marked at new road is under construction confounded,

occupies approximately 6 minutes.ing other motor vehicles travelling earlier travellers who were able to hills. Hangchow Bay la in sight their junction with others by and it is necessary to lay out a I understand it has been shown

There ars gasolene triangle, erected a hundred yards heavy curve, the bend should be to Chief Constables and various stations at Minghong on both dangerous and cannot be carried cally no trafic on the road and be short distance of the road at any service in the same direction is extremely complete the journey with practi- as far as Karapu, and is within a or so before the point of inter-split, with an island in the centre, other authorities, who seem

sides of the Whangpoo. to section, while the subsidiary road thas forming two separato "one have

Minghong-Chalin.--21 bestowed upon it their

out in safety unless the vehicle in fore the surface had been sub-point. should be indicated by a cross, way" roads, each of which should provisional blessing; but I am

metres (18 miles), recently con-

front draws to the side of the roadjected to any wear and tear. In! There is no hotel accommoda- similarly placed at an adequate be banked the right way for the inclined to think that such bless-structed of broken atone with and comes to a stop. Motor buses dry weather dust in exceptionally tion between Shanghai and

traffic.

operate along the whole length of bnd. ing le likely to be modified when surface of cinders or crushed the road but they travel fairly

Hangchow and no food can be Making Things Worse the arrangement is seen working, shells. The surface is in places fast and It is only possible to pass

Chinese Hostile to Motor procured with the excoption of very soft. Vido enough

"Caravans"

egga, and, at the numerous Chin-. for them when travelling in the same The same reader raises the so to say, in the mass.

The trouble with many such vehicles to pass each other with-f direction at the various stoppinghong and Chapoo the Chinese ap-|

On October 10th, between Mingese temples, tea. through Nanchino. Gasolene ser-standard road signals indicating that this was due to the clouds of question of the "stratum" of

from Minghong the road passes nut dimculty. Ten kilometres

No facilities appear to exist on stations.

peared to be hostile places and the road for repairs of any The whole length of the road enquiries elicited the information description.. vice station at Chelin.

A Chinese license issued by the from Shanghai to Hangchow la dust which covered their crops. Municipality of Greater Shanghai abundantly supplied with ex- In

farmers places the

were is sufficient to cover this road and cellent "dangerous slopes," observed watering the road for the

dangerous curves," "dangerous stretches of half a mile and more. king, Nanking-Wuhu and Hang- bridges," "road crossings," rail-It should also be borne in mind chow Hwelchow

connecting Hangchow-Nan-

way crossing," etc, and kilometre that the Chinese

roads. It is: signs run from Shanghal to the sections of the road are unused to may be introduced at the bogia- certain possible that a new system of tolla angau border near Kingszen, fast moving trafic. The most-im-ning of 1983, but for the prosent approximately half way between portant factor for comfort on any nana are payable for private motor Cholin and Chapoo at which place section of the road is careful vehicles. Cheklang Province is entered and driving, and preparedness to meet No rule of the road is published, the distance from Hangchow. road surface or dangerous curves. Shanghai practice, l.e. keep to the

The road can be used, subject to A day's return journey from left,

to realise that all cross-ronds are everybody as possible? danger pointa.

distance la from the main rond.

This is excellent in its way, but one of its weaknesses in that both the triangle and the cross are al-

distinct meanings.

ready familiar and have their noxious gases which is alleged to be formed in busy and constricted streets by exhaust fumes from

vehicles, Attention

this by

re

deviso

Risk Of Confusion

other some

W49

the

worac

Kilo-

оп

on

no buses, to be fitted with vertical winter evening if every car with broken shells. After leaving the kilometre stones then register any emergency resulting from soft but all traffic appears to observe

Inviting More Rules

Kilo-

appear to be all that is desirable, ideas is that, seen singly, they

The triangle is now a cautionary motor

and one is apt to jump to the con- clualon that herein lies the solu- sign Indicating that there may be recently called to

Cholin-Chapoo-17 Kilometres tion of many troubles. But when a danger ahead. These triangica medical authority, with particular

(29 miles). This section la nar- devices are brought into being displaced by

row and cars may only pase when more reference to the conditions said to general use the snags appear, and graphic signs, but there are still exist in Bond, street and other what initially looked like a blese- or thing dead slow. The top unough of them in use to lead to narrow thoroughfares in Londoning is seen to be a curse.

of the old sea wall is used for the confusion if they were used in the carrying a heavy volume of motor state of things that is likely to I do not care to visualise the

road for several miles after which way suggested.

It skirts the single hill just beyond traffic. It would be ensy, of course, to My correspondent suggests that this invention and its use in busy

ensuo on a general adoption of Kingszen and the range of hills

at Chapoo. The road bed indicating a partial remedy would be to com-streets. symbol, but I am not in favour of pel all large vehicles, as, for ox-London, during the rush time on Imagino Oxford-atrent,

the top of the sea wall is sold and multiplying the variety of road ample, double-decked motor-omnl-

has been surfaced temporarily signs. There la, however, reason why a large and charac-exhaust pipes extending to the top coloured signalling invention! It surfaced with broken shells and were equipped with this multi-the sea wall the road bed which is teristically coloured triangle of the vehicle, so as to carry off would be very much like a firework cindors, becomes soft and trea- should not be used as my corres- the gases at a higher level. I display hat my mala objections cherous. Gasolono service stations pondent suggests.

Again, the cross is used at be worth, though I think I have are based on more practical con-

pass on the idea for what it may Haining is 22 miles (36 kilome- at Kingszen and Chapoo.

Chapoo-Hangchow.-118 present to denote a read crossing. heard it before. hut gives no Indication of its

matres (7834 Milas). The whole siderations. Without pretending to a great

of this section of the rond has character. I would suggest that, deal of knowledge of the subject,

been in use by motor buses for if the idea I have outlined be I doubt it would muko much In the frat place. I think it some time. Wide enough for adopted, the cross in an enlarged difference. As I understand it, unwise to complicate any system single line of traffic only until form should be retained, but carbon-monoxide, which is the when something simpler is more approaching Hangchow. The road superimposed on the cross should dangerous component of exhaust effective and less likely to lend to bed is hard, but in places the be the letter "M," denoting that fumes, is a heavy gas which tends confusion and accident,

loose cinder top surface and the road to be entered in a to sink to ground level. On a hot,

numerous charp curves make the "auperior" one. That would get still day in a narrow, congested

greater part of the road dangerous rid of all the difficulty and would street the evil might be aggravat-to give the correct warning of his for motor vehicles driven at high speed. From Chapoo the next town is Maiyen (11 miles-18 kilometres) and from there to Kampu (12 miles-20 kilometres). The road runs along the sea wall from Chapoo but here enters the countryside in order to skirt the long range of hills at Kampu. Work is at present in progress: cutting out a number of the bends in this section, but the road lo still extremely dangerous for fast travel as far as Haining and some distance beyond. From Kampu to tres) and care has to be taken slowing down through the lattor place. Policemen with green and red flags are stationed at either end of the vilinge to direct traffic which can only travel single Ale in one direction only. Gasolone : service station at Haining. At Hukatou some miles beyond Hain- ing a road branches off to the right (to the Hangehow Railway), but the. Hangehow rond goes straight ahead and on approaching Hangehow widens for the last 15

We know that it is not every driver who can be depended upon

CRUDE OIL MOTOR 'BUSES

GARDNER ENGINED TILLING-STEVENS 'BUSES

OVER ONE HUNDRED OF THESE ARE IN USE

BY THE CHINA GENERAL OMINIBUS CO.

SHANGHAI.

KING

Agents:-DODWELL & CO., LTD.

Hongkong,

intentions to other traffic, even with the infinitely sinipler systems of signalling now in use. How much more likely is even the most careful and painstaking driver to fall into error when he has under his hand a device that depends for its effectiveness on human ac. curacy t

What can be simpler than the electrically operated and lumin ated semaphoro arms which are now so widely used? In com- bination with a "Stop" light be hind the ear they give all the Indications that are necessary for the information of other traffle.

From another point of view I am sorry this device has beog Introduced. The more there are of such accessories, the more like- ly are we to be hampered by regulations of the Ministry of Transport, which is the last thing wo want

The motoring community is intensely interested in working out its own salvation, and desired nothing more than to be left ng much as posible alone to do it. Anything, therefore, that invites interference from the authorlties is unwelcome,

A recent order for six rollers has been placed in Shanghai.

RUSTON DIESEL ROLLER.

Forty years on the hard road to experience.

Sole Agents.

REISS MASSEY & Co., Ltd.

..

r, Queen's Road Central, Hongkong.

- Upaso.